William Wells

Dr William George Wells AM, who passed away on 4th February 2021, was a Malaya Study Group member for 60 years. He was well known to many of us, both here in Australia, where he was the local representative of the group for a number of years, and overseas, where he attended exhibitions, functions and Group meetings.

William was also a long term member of other philatelic societies, notably the Brighton Philatelic Society in Victoria, where he was a member for 68 years, often in leadership positions. Recently, he was inducted as an Honorary Patron of the Society in recognition of his long standing and substantial service. He was a member of the Royal Philatelic Society of Victoria in excess of 50 years and a member of the Royal Philatelic Society of London for approaching 50 years.

William was active in the Australian Scouting movement. It was his vision to start the Australian Queen’s Scout Association and was founding chairperson of this group. He served as Chief Scout Commissioner of Scouts Australia from 1992 until 1999 and played an important role in bringing the 31st World Scout Conference to Melbourne in 1988. In 2002, William was awarded the 294th “Bronze Wolf” by the World Scout committee for exceptional services to World Scouting and was made a member of the Order of Australia (AM) on Australia Day, 1991 for similar reasons.

William held a Doctorate in Chemical Engineering from Monash University in Victoria and joined the family business WRDWells, in operation for over 80 years, acting as owner and managing director for many of those years.

Jeff Gunston, February 2021, Brisbane

To write an appreciation of someone who lived 10,000 miles away and whom the writer had met only a dozen times could seem presumptuous; others of greater acquaintance will write more knowledgeably. Nevertheless, these few notes might contribute towards a “Farewell” to William Wells of Victoria, Australia.

How William came to join the fledgling Malaya Study Group is not known, but Howard Selzer’s nets were widely spread. William’s interests lay in the stamps of the Straits Settlements and in BMA Malaya issues. He wrote occasionally for TMP and visited the UK several times. On his first visit, he triumphantly found, at the London Charing Cross Saturday bourse, two copies of the BMA 50c forgery, priced as normals (the forgeries were then a great deal scarcer than they seem to be today).

He was present at the Group’s 21st Anniversary Celebrations in 1980, at which there are photos of him chatting with Howard Selzer. He no doubt enjoyed hearing of the occasion when a small group of visitors to London International, having identified themselves as being from Victoria, Australia were asked “Whereabouts?” “A small place called East Brighton,” they replied, and were knocked for six when asked “And how is William Wells these days?”

He was a quiet man, with ever-ready humour, always dependable and a fine friend. He contributed a great deal to the running of the Group, representing it in Australasia – an on-going task which kept him in touch with members, old and new. We are privileged to have had him on our side – with distance no object.

Gordon Peters, February 2021, London